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After last week's disappointing showing against Japan, Andy Farrell challenged his Ireland team to improve their game.

The team listened right away.

The Irish side had struggled late against New Zealand and taken considerable time to find their rhythm versus Japan.

However, facing the Wallabies, they began strongly, with the talented back excelling brightest during a comprehensive victory that represented the team's best performance this year.

Making his debut international start at full-back, the player scored a hat-trick, contested excellently for aerial challenges and played outstandingly against the country of his birth.

"You know, I've had a fairly difficult run with fitness issues really," the athlete stated.

"I missed being in this squad, I know there's considerable discussion about me not necessarily being born here and I wasn't raised here, but I adore this team and this feels like family.

"Any time I get to represent for the national team it's a honor, if you don't put in a good showing you might not get that opportunity again.

"My entire focus this period was to take the field and perform what I can do."

Coach declared: 'Excellent athletes don't need justifications'

Following twenty-eight appearances on the wing, Hansen was entrusted the number 15 role for the initial time with multiple players injured.

In his case, it was simply a matter of continuing where he left off during the summer.

The 28-year-old had been in excellent form before injury ended his aspiration of making the international team.

After returned recently, he suffered a foot problem that ruled him out for earlier matches.

Farrell had indicated that Hansen was especially motivated and these turned out to be not empty statements as the former provincial player gave his coach a welcome selection headache for upcoming matches.

"Well my first thoughts were, 'You need to perform excellently in those two colored shoes!'," commented Farrell, alluding to the player's choice to wear different boots.

"In fact I thought that was fitting but apparently Mack just did that personally regardless. So he's drawn attention to himself before he's even begun.

"I told to him before the match, 'Excellent players don't need excuses, they can get on with it and just play naturally, you can win the man of the match if you want,' and he responded, 'Yes, I agree.'

"Therefore he's that kind of performer, he trains thoroughly, he's got a great approach to get across his preparation and thus that's why he slotted right into the team and he was capable to perform naturally because of that."

The player's performance also earned praise from the opposing coach, who stated he was the "standout opposition performer" on the night.

"In my view he was outstanding, his experience was evident to the front," commented the former international manager.

"Regrettably, Hansen was likely the best Australian player on the field. He's got a great skillset and he's such a good contender."

When asked about what makes Hansen a strong fit at full-back, the coach continued: "Showing up in the middle of the pitch is a trait that he demonstrates from the flank regardless, but I imagine he's more in place for that more often.

"His aerial play was brilliant, don't you think? I believed we persisted of executing the right approach and that was putting the possession back on them to gain field position.

"The reason that was the correct strategy to do is because it's the players of Hansen who was getting the possessions back, and other players, so [it's] pretty pleasing."

Beyond Hansen, there were numerous positives for Farrell.

Sam Prendergast was excellent on his return to the fly-half position, the set piece and line-out functioned smoothly and different teammate did not appear uncomfortable in his first start in the forwards.

But perhaps most satisfying for Farrell was the team bookending the match with two impressive spells.

Hansen's initial two scores came in the opening eleven moments while other teammates registered in the closing stages after the other team had crossed, guaranteeing the home team concluded on a positive note.

"I thought we really let ourselves go and approached the game right from the beginning," stated the coach.

"The way we managed numerous aspects throughout the game, especially them coming back just before half-time and regathering ourselves and giving a performance like we achieved in the later stages, I believed as far as territory and being familiar with the majority of our game in that later period was really pleasing."

The strength of South Africa are next up for Ireland, in what might be viewed as an unofficial conclusion to the previous season's drawn two-Test contest on rival soil.

The coach's team will need to reach another standard to defeat the consecutive title holders, but Saturday's defeat of the Wallabies was a significant advancement in the correct path after an disappointing start to their fall schedule.